Kwan Im statue in Siantar was built in 3 years and made public on 15th November 2005. The 22.8 meters granite statue was ordered from China as the heighest statue in South East Asia.
For Buddhist, Kwan Im is regarded as the Goddess of Mercy and known as Bodhisattva or Buddha-To-Be, human being that is almost reaching enlightment and perfection. The position of Kwan Im in Siantar is called “The Sutra Holder Quan Yin” out of 33 other positions.
Kwan Im is also called Avalokitesvara, identical to the Vihara in which the statue is in. Aval means “hear” and lokite means “world” and svara means “voice” which summarizes “Hearing voices of the world”. “Avalokitesvara, as buddhists believed, is compassion. And those who suffer will be heard”, said Monk Dhyanavira of Vihara Avalokitesvara.
The statue is surrounded by “Catur Mahadewa Raja” (guardians of hell, who’s noting merits/misdeeds done by mortals). The site is also featured with a giant bell and a praying wheel. At the lower part of the site, 33 small Kwan Im statues are circling the big statue.
The Kwan Im statues is now one of religious sites to visit in Siantar, visited by many tourists as well as pilgrims especially on holiday and holy day of Buddhist.
